You want success in life, you get these two things right.

1. You are who you hang out with, and you need to hang out with the right people.
2. Who you are accountable to in life directs the path you go on.

Me, I hang out with nobody and accountable to no one because I don't know what success in life mean.

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Reason10 · 70-79, M

The Brookings Institution, many years ago, came up with the three magical ways to avoid poverty in America.

1. Stay in school and graduate.

2. Do not have children out of wedlock.

3. Get a job and do not quit the job unless you are getting a better job.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@Reason10

I did 1 and 2 but resigned and gave up my career climbing the corporate ladder in a top US multi-national company. Money was good and the job was great working with and among smart, ambitious, driven, people especially the folks I reported to. One day, I just lost my drive. I quit cold turkey. The closest thing that I can think of to explain why I did that is the movie clip below. I was that guy sitting on that guard rail but did jump, figuratively speaking.

[media=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW1CrQu_H6E&t=1s]

Reason10 · 70-79, M

@sree251 Hopefully you're okay today.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@Reason10

Hopefully you're okay today.

Shit yeah, better than most. No health issues, no debts, and sitting on a pile of Treasuries. Hopefully, Uncle Sam doesn't go belly up on account of the national debt or nuclear war.

Reason10 · 70-79, M

@sree251 As long as we keep Republicans in charge (and CENTRIST Republicans--I never thought I'd hear myself utter that), the world will keep a certain distance from the nuclear clock. President Trump pushed that nuclear clock back many hours by bombing Iran's nuclear weapons facilities.

National debt is another matter. The Kerrey Danforth Report says that if nothing is done about deficit spending, by the year 2030 the ONLY item on the federal budget will be interest on Social Security, no welfare, no military, no roads, zip. And all income taxes across the board will be 90 percent.

The national debt time bomb may make you long for a nuclear exchange.

sree251 · 41-45, M

@Reason10

The national debt time bomb may make you long for a nuclear exchange.

We don't know the future. I live one day at a time. Nuclear war is the lesser of my concerns. Chances are, the US economy will gradually crumble driving up interest rates which works for me. Hopefully, this goes on long enough for me to kick the bucket safely.